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Old Style Hopi Carved Firewalker, Pot Carrier, Crow Mother and Red Skirt Katsina Doll Ornaments
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Old Style Hopi Carved Firewalker, Pot Carrier, Crow Mother and Red Skirt Katsina Doll Ornaments by Gene Lalo
Firewalker (Kokosori) originated in Zuni Pueblo. The Zuni people have a long "fraternity with fire." This blackened Hopi Firewalker is the younger brother of the Hemis Katsina. Kokosori represents the germinating spirit of corn and his colored spots represent all the different kinds of corn (yellow, blue, red and white). Always small, for he is personated by a boy, he possesses great spiritual powers. Pot Carrier (Sivu-i-quil Taka) has many names. He can be known also by Talakin, Malachpeta and Malatsmo (Hand Katsina). He usually carries the pot by a strap that goes over his forehead, though sometimes he carries the pot with the strap around his shoulder. He always has a white handprint covering his face. When he appears as a runner he is called Matia. Crow Mother (Angwusnasomtaka) is Mother of the Whipper Katsinam and considered by many Hopi to be the Mother of all Katsinam. She is Crow Bride (Angwushahai-i) on Third Mesa probably because she talks or sings and comes dressed entirely in white. On the other Mesas she is Crow Mother. She appears during the Bean Dance (Powamuya) on all three Mesas. During the Powamuya, she supervises the initiation of the children into the Katsina Society and carries the yucca whips with which they are struck by the Hu Katsina. Later in the same ceremony, she leads other Katsinam into the village bearing in her arms a basket of corn kernels and bean sprouts to symbolically start the new growing season. The Red Skirt Runner (Palavikuna) carries yucca whips to whip the people whom he beats in a footrace and offers piki bread as a reward for the contestants. This is a rarely carved Katsina. Click on numbered boxes below image for additional views.
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